Economic inequality a major theme of Sen. Mike Lee's tea party State of the Union response

Comments

All I want to say is, "I can't wait to see the Tea Party response."
I'm curious how much it will have to do with reality.

JoeBlowFar East USA, SC

Jan. 28, 2014 4:49 p.m.

"There is no incentive for me to evaluate the cost for health care
procedures, doctor visits, etc. The list is endless! Why? Because government is
in charge! "

I dont see that as the cause at all. Tell me what
the govt is doing which precludes a hospital from giving you a good faith
estimate that is accurate.

Then tell me why something that you know
costs $5 gets billed at $75. What specifically does the govt do to cause
that?

It is much easier to just "blame the govt" than to
think of the actual causes.

Look at the profits of hospitals and
insurance companies. Compare it to 10 years ago.

You will find the
bulk of the problem.

bandersenSaint George, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 2:13 p.m.

Joe Blow: I agree with you on the Health care criticism. I have health care
through my employer. Do I have any clue what things cost? Not even! why!
There is no incentive for me to evaluate the cost for health care procedures,
doctor visits, etc. The list is endless! Why? Because government is in
charge! My health care is just like belonging to a club or getting cable T.V.,
all of which occurs because government won't allow the consumer to figure
things out for themselves. If you or anyone else thinks its going to change
with universal healthcare, you don't understand human nature. Costs are
going to explode and at the very least, it will be rationed and our health care
system will look more like third world! The only way to control costs is to
make sure everyone understands the rules and offers incentives for people to
control costs themselves. I am a teacher (a sizeable number across America) and
I know I don't care what things cost. I just know I have it,just like a
host of other teachers. That alone tells me it is a loser!

bandersenSaint George, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 1:03 p.m.

I find it ironic that the Tea party didn't even exist five years ago. It
is also ironic that most of the posts here are from Democrats, a party that
represents only 33% of the electorate, and yet you'd think that their views
represent all of America and parts of the Asian and African continents. If 40%
of the electorate no longer considers themselves Democrat or Republican, what
does that tell you about both of those parties? Of course, the irony continues,
all those facts combine to give the Democrats a mandate? Does the ostrich image
come to mind? In fact, the tea party is an enigma, claims no members,isn't
even a party--they have no platform, represent no constituency, don't
patronize people with lies, don't tell people how to vote, don't
employ people on the plantation system (minimum wage, welfare, and war),believe
in the rule of law, like the constitution (imagine that), understand history,
think that family is important, go to church, actually want to work, and would
like the rest of the world to catch on to what it is like to be free from the
all encompassing grasp of government.

JoeBlowFar East USA, SC

Jan. 28, 2014 10:58 a.m.

"Or, in Joe Blow's case, not knowing what to do with a businessman that
charges too much! "

Nice try. I do know what to do, when I can
get the information.

Good faith estimates in real estate must be,
well, er, Good Faith.

I got one prior to an outpatient surgery.
When the the surgery went as routine, and the bill came in over 30% higher, I
asked why. "those estimates dont mean anything" was the answer.

So, how about a law, (oh no, govt regulation) which requires hospitals
to, at a minimum, put out a real good faith estimate? How about giving
consumers the information necessary to make informed decisions.

As it
stands now, it is not possible in health care.

Kent C. DeForrestProvo, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 9:18 a.m.

Neither Mike Lee nor President Obama have a clue about how to solve the income
inequality problem we face. The tea party has no solution other than grow the
economy, which plenty of experience has shown to be ineffective at best. The
Democrats seek to redistribute wealth, and the Republicans cry foul. The problem
isn't the REdistribution of wealth; it is the initial distribution. The
only way to keep excess revenue from going into the pockets of the already
wealthy is for businesses to hire more people, pay them better, or, best of all,
share ownership with those who actually create, sell, and service the products.
Stop treating human beings as commodities, as human resources, as a cost to be
minimized. This undergirding philosophy of corporate capitalism is inconsistent
with our political system and our social ideals.

EDMCastle Valley, Utah

Jan. 28, 2014 9:10 a.m.

Mike Lee wants to hear our ideas for fixing economic inequality? Ok, here's
one I've heard: Get government out of it, and tell Americans to buck up and
get to work. Isn't this our magic bullet?

EsquireSpringville, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 8:54 a.m.

@ Mountanman, I see polls every single day, and they are all over the map. But
the polls don't tell the story of the GOP being a mess. Let's see how
things sort out in 2016. In the meantime, Rince Priebus, as one commenter said,
will be eating a lot of Malox in the the coming months. Talk about being the
captain of the Titantic.

VanceoneProvo, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 8:51 a.m.

That's Right! The Tea Party should be shut up by force--it's the
Democratic Party way! They shouldn't be allowed to speak. No one should,
unless it is pre approved by the noble guardians of the left at the NYT and the
Washington Post! Only they (along with the DNC) can decide what is appropriate
political discourse!

If the policies advanced say that government
is too big, then by golly, the government should shut them down! We can't
let people hear those divisive ideas!

Because, after all,
Democratic party ideas just can't stand up to scrutiny, so we have to shut
down opposition!

Right, liberals?

bandersenSaint George, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 8:08 a.m.

Nobody needs to go out on a limb. The answers are simple, not the hopelessness
that occurs with those who want to believe in every fiber of their being that
somebody, i.e. the government, will make their empty lives better! People talk
as if they have no control over the businessman that charges too much. The
answer is simple; Don't buy from the businessman! What is wrong wrong with
people who feel so hopeless that they feel taken advantage of when they
can't have a smart phone, a big screen tv, or an income that provides three
vacations a year in Hawaii? Or, in Joe Blow's case, not knowing what to do
with a businessman that charges too much! Don't support the business,
including Wal-mart, Mcdonald's, or a coffee maker that buys his beans from
a sharecropper in Bermuda! Enough already of feeling like you can't
control your urges or your own life. Quit feeling manipulated by businessman
that provide a product that someone in Africa would throw in a fire pit to keep
warm! Support Freedom!

MountanmanHayden, ID

Jan. 28, 2014 7:59 a.m.

@ Esquire. You think the GOP is a mess? Perhaps you haven't seen
Obama's latest approval numbers from likely voters! About 68% of voters
disapprove of Obama's policies. Did you not see the Washington Post's
warning that the Demos will likely lose their Senate majority this November?
Seems the "uninformed malcontents of society" are not who you think they
are!

EsquireSpringville, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 7:40 a.m.

Mike Lee talking about income inequality? What could he possibly say of merit?
Frankly, the GOP is an absolute mess. And reading the article, Lee seems to be
representing the uninformed malcontents of society. So sad.

george of the junglegoshen, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 7:16 a.m.

I hope some one shuts off what the President will read so he'll have to
actually say what he thinks.

Open Minded MormonEverett, 00

Jan. 28, 2014 7:16 a.m.

blah, blah, blah --- something about fiscal responsility and loosing my house in
a short sale...

blah, blah, blah -- something about obeying the
Constitution, and shutting down the Government and holding the country hostage
unless you get your un-Constitutional way...

This shoudl be very
entertaining....

JoeBlowFar East USA, SC

Jan. 28, 2014 6:53 a.m.

Let me go far out on a limb and make a prediction.

These responses
will be long on criticism and short on solutions.

They will bash the
ACA and offer nothing better.

The solutions, as always, will be to
lower taxes, remove any and all government regulation and allow business to do
anything they want to maximize profit.

Call me a visionary, but this
is my prediction.

Thid BarkerVictor, ID

Jan. 28, 2014 6:33 a.m.

I wish Obama would explain how income equality can be achieved when ever more
people waste their lives away getting high, playing video games and being
irresponsible all day and thus achieve no prosperity and ever fewer Americans
work hard, improve their capabilities, develop their capabilities and thus
achieve prosperity. Obama would change all that around? At least Mike Lee knows
income redistribution punishes prosperity and rewards failure and as long as the
government does that, we will have much less prosperity and achievement in every
level of society. The difference is Obama has implemented destructive policies
to individuals and our nation that are destroying our nation in everyway a
nation can be destroyed and the TEA Party would implement policies that will
produce prosperity, growth and achievement. If Americans don't believe
that, they are either asleep or blinded to what is happening to what was once
the greatest achieving, the most prosperous nation the world has ever seen! But
Obama is changing all that with socialism and income redistribution! Wake up
America!

GibsterSan Antonio, TX

Jan. 28, 2014 5:47 a.m.

Freshman Senators are much like little children, They should be seen and not
heard!!!!!

My2CentsTaylorsville, UT

Jan. 28, 2014 5:07 a.m.

We are not dead, the tea party is the new republican. Out with the old socialist
and put in some realistic government goals.

I think the term
economic inequality must change to "restore prosperity, high wages, and
independent self sufficient citizens". We are not a government of
compromise, or government oversight. Americans don't need government
welfare.

Eliminate welfare should be the first act and make people
work and look for jobs. Tell everyone to get on the job listing in all states
regardless of unemployment benefits or not, its the means by which the democrats
can claim unemployment is below the real 33% it is. Close borders, eliminate
visas, immigration and refugee who don't want to become americans.

Cut funding to states so they can't be blackmailed by terms and
conditions of funds to comply with federal mandates.

The tea party is
about less governemnt to eliminate welfare and public assistance as non
essential government we push the unbelievers into jobs, illegal aliens out of
the country and schools.

Economic growth can only come from higher
wages, organized labor, and job security by shutting down FTA (foreign trade
agreements) which enslaves foreign nations to submission.

ThornBirdsSt.George, Utah

Jan. 27, 2014 11:07 p.m.

Perhaps an individual with no ties to any political party will be able to give
their response?What a concept!

atl134Salt Lake City, UT

Jan. 27, 2014 9:35 p.m.

@Kings CourtActually... Rand Paul is also going to give a response, so
that's three responses tomorrow.

bandersenSaint George, UT

Jan. 27, 2014 9:32 p.m.

To say that Mike Lee almost brought the world to financial ruin makes me laugh!
Are there any teachers in our public education system that have taught Econ.
101. such bizarre comments make me wonder! Mike Lee is the Jefferson Smith of
our day! He may not be Patrick Henry, but the likes of him, and many more, are
going to be needed if our country wants a chance! We have President that will
go down as the worst President in United States history. My only advice to Mike
Lee is to leave after two terms or he will succumb to the same shame and
corruption of all the rest!

GibsterSan Antonio, TX

Jan. 27, 2014 9:25 p.m.

Senator Lee: Do the country a favor, keep your mouth closed!!!!!!!

mcdugallMurray, UT

Jan. 27, 2014 8:41 p.m.

@ellis984 John McCain and Chris Christy are not even remotely progressive. Mike
Lee and the tea party group are no better than the other established parties,
however, at least the two other parties didn't nearly bring the world
economy to financial ruin last October.

ellis984Orem, UT

Jan. 27, 2014 8:22 p.m.

The main stream Republican Party no longer speaks for Constitutional
Conservatives. Someone saying they belong to the Republican Party means very
little. John McCain and Chris Christy say they are Republicans, but their
behavior shows us they are progressives.

I look forward to hearing
Mike Lee's perspective. Listen without prejudice, perhaps you will
understand.

Counter IntelligenceSalt Lake City, UT

Jan. 27, 2014 6:23 p.m.

simply reading George Orwell's Animal Farm will explain both income
inequality and the Obama administration at the same time

Kings CourtAlpine, UT

Jan. 27, 2014 6:13 p.m.

Silly rabbit! Trix are for kids!

Why do we need a Tea Party
response, when the Tea Party faction runs as Republicans and we already have a
Republican response. What's next? A Green Party response? A Libertarian
response? A Constitution Party response, and on, and on, and on.